March 2018

NEW RELEASES FROM KING & COUNTRY!

WELCOME TO MARCH and this month’s bumper bundle of very diverse releases… Now, that might sound familiar as most months have a wide selection of releases covering a broad spectrum of different historical eras and interests but take a look for yourself and you’ll see what I mean…

BEING RELEASED IN MARCH…

1. "THE LIFE OF JESUS"

With Easter just another month away we have returned to The Holy Land with 4 small releases of figures that help tell a unique story…

The transformation of water into wine is the first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John.

According to the Gospel, Jesus, his mother and the disciples were attending a wedding feast when the wine ran out... Jesus then ordered the servants to fill large jars with water and then serve some to the Chief Steward of the house where the feast was being held.

Both the Steward and then the guests remarked on how good this ‘new’ wine was. John in his Gospel says, “Jesus did this, the first of his signs, and it revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him.”

Our small set shows Jesus instructing a young servant to pour water into the large wine jars.

A woman makes her way home from the market carrying a tray of freshly-baked bread.

AVAILABILITY: NOW!

2. "BATTLE OF BRITAIN 1968"

Back in the summer of 1968, a major motion picture was being filmed in the UK that would depict the epic battle between Britain’s beleaguered Royal Air Force and Adolf Hitler’s all-conquering Luftwaffe during another summer just 28 years before.

To tell the story the film makers gathered an aerial armada of vintage fighter and bomber aircraft from around the world.

Real Spitfires and Hurricanes plus Messerschmitts, Heinkels and Junkers (albeit license built in Spain) took to the air once more to retell this mighty struggle.

It’s fair to say that ‘The Battle of Britain’ movie helped ‘spur’ the general public’s interest in and fascination with the entire ‘WARBIRD’ movement of collecting and flying vintage aircraft which continues to this day.

K&C LATEST SPITFIRE

To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the making of ‘The Battle of Britain’ film we are replicating a Spitfire Mk.II in the exact markings of one of the leading characters in the movie played by the late, great British actor Robert Shaw… Sqdn. Leader ‘Skipper’.

In the film, ‘Skipper’ flies Spitfire ‘AIA’, decorated with both his squadron leader’s pennant and 9 x German ‘kill’ markings.

A standing figure of the character played by Robert Shaw... dressed in his No. 2 uniform, ‘Mae West’ life jacket and roll neck sweater.

AVAILABILITY: NOW!

3. "SIX-DAY WAR OPPOSITION"

During the tumultuous upheavals of the June War of 1967 the majority of the enemy troops fighting the Israelis were Egyptian and Syrian… Here we provide the first opposition for our Israeli paratroopers…

As you can see, virtually all their weaponry was supplied by the Warsaw Pact countries and the Soviets. Russian-style helmets were also much in evidence. Uniforms and other personal equipment however were mostly made in the Middle East with a motley mixture of boots, shoes and sandals worn.

Although possessing much modern weaponry the Egyptian and Syrian soldiers suffered from woefully inept leadership at all levels of the military… inadequate training and, importantly, a lack of initiative… Put all of that together and you have all the makings of a great military disaster.

Although individual Arab soldiers fought bravely they could not overcome the inbuilt deficiencies of their own military systems… Especially against an opposition that was skillful, well-trained and highly-motivated!

The Soviets and Warsaw Pact supplied both Egypt and Syria with many thousands of these fine weapons for their infantry... proving once more that you need a lot more than great weapons to make a great fighting force!

The RPG-7 is a man-portable, reusable, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Its ruggedness, simplicity, low cost and effectiveness made it a perfect weapon for Third World militaries and insurgents.

In use since the early 1960’s it was widely deployed during the SIX-DAY WAR by the Arab armies... with mixed results.

Usually operated by a 2-man team with one soldier carrying and operating the launcher itself while the other carries extra rockets and a rifle.

As you can see this ‘Babe’ is definitely NOT part of the Egyptian /Syrian Army!!!

As anyone who has studied the Israeli Army in any detail knows there is no shortage of good-looking ladies in the IDF... So, OK, this one is a wee bit more provocative... But c’mon guys who said toy soldiers couldn’t be FUN too...?

5. "FINDING PVT. RYAN"

Private First Class James Francis Ryan is an American paratrooper who served in Baker Company, 1st Battalion 506th P.I.R. of the 101st Airborne Division during the Normandy Invasion.

He was the youngest brother of 4 in the Ryan family. Already his three older brothers have been reported killed in combat when it is decided, back in Washington, to somehow find Ryan and pull him out of action.

In the movie “Saving Pvt. Ryan”, Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) leads a squad of US Army Rangers deep behind the German lines to try to find Ryan.

After several false starts they eventually meet him in a field outside the fictional town of Ramelle in Normandy just after he has destroyed a German halftrack with a bazooka.

This is how we have portrayed him... helmet in one hand, bazooka in the other.

AVAILABILITY: NOW!

6. "CORNER WALL TOWER"

A much requested piece by many of our “Desert Village” collectors. Of interest, is the fact that it was originally designed by one of our K&C collectors in Italy and sent to Hong Kong for us to duplicate.

The Emperor Napoleon was surrounded by Aide de Camps that he would send at a moment’s notice with dispatches and instructions for his Generals. At the same time they would come back to Headquarters with the latest reports from the commanders in the field.

This officer salutes as he prepares to undertake a mission on behalf of the Emperor.

AVAILABILITY: NOW!

9. "THE SHERRIF’S MEN"

Two more of the Sherrif of Nottingham’s men that intend to make life miserable for Robin Hood & His Merrie Men… providing that is they can catch them first.

No easy or simple task considering they will have to enter the dark green woods that are Sherwood Forest.

These small wooden fishing craft were a familiar sight throughout the Middle East, around the shores of the Mediterranean and on the banks, lakes and rivers of the Holy Land. Up until the mid-19th Century they were still to be seen. Here we have one of the most famous…

Priller is perhaps most famous for flying his Fw190 on a single strafing run of Sword Beach" on D.Day as seen in the epic "The Longest Day". "Pips" Priller, during WW2, flew over 1,300 combat missions and shot down 101 Allied aircraft... including 68 Spitfires! This is the highest of any Lufwaffe ace's tally for this particular aircraft. "

Another notable Luftwaffe fighter ace with 93 kills" and recipient of the "Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves". Although most of his victories were gained flying the Fw190 he himself was shot down and killed in February 1944 flying a Messerschmitt Bf109 "Gustav"."